These Brown Butter Toffee Apple Blondies turn on the “wow” factor with spiced apples, walnuts, toffee bits and the star ingredient, the rich, nutty taste of browned butter. Soft and chewy, redolent of holiday spices and reminiscent of toffee apples.
Ingredients
2 medium cooking apples, tart variety such as Granny Smith
1 cup unsalted butter
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1-2/3 cups dark brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup toffee bits
granulated sugar, for sprinkling
2 tablespoons toffee bits, for sprinkling
Directions
- Peel and core the apples and chop into 3/4-inch pieces. Reserve 2 cups of this, and snack on the rest! Set aside.
- Slice the butter into pieces and place in pan that is light in color (silvery, NOT a black non-stick coating) so that you can see the color changes of the butter. Melt over medium heat, stirring constantly. Butter will begin to brown, with brown flecks, after 5 to 8 minutes. Immediately remove from heat. Pour the browned butter into a medium mixing bowl and set aside. Add the sliced apples to the hot, light-colored pan that is still coated with the residual butter. Toss in the 2 tablespoons of dark brown sugar and 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon. Cook until softened, about 3 to 5 minutes. Set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 350F and line the bottom and sides of a 9×13-inch pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, salt, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and nutmeg. Set aside. To the medium mixing bowl containing the browned butter, add the 1-2/3 cup brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Beat well. Pour the butter mixture into the flour mixture and combine well. Fold in the apples, walnuts, and 1/3 cup toffee bits until well combined.
- Spread batter into prepared pan. It will be thick. Sprinkle with granulated sugar and the additional toffee bits. Bake for 35 minutes or until the top has turned lightly brown and a toothpick comes out with just a few moist crumbs sticking to it (not liquid). Remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cool, lift out the entire batch by the overhanging parchment paper and place on a cutting board to slice neatly into bars.
Notes
- This recipe was adapted from one found at the incomparable Sally’s Baking Addiction.